TIME: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday
in October).

ELECTRICITY: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round 2-pin plugs are used.

GEOGRAPHY:
Greece is situated in southeast Europe on the
Mediterranean. The mainland consists of the following regions: Central
Greece, Peloponnese, Thessaly (east/central), Epirus (west), Macedonia
(north/northwest) and Thrace (northwest). Euboea, the second largest of
the Greek islands, lying to the east of the central region, is also
considered to be part of the mainland region. The Peloponnese peninsula is
separated from the northern mainland by the Isthmus of Corinth. The
northern mainland is dissected by high mountains (such as the Pindus) that
extend southwards towards a landscape of fertile plains, pine-forested
uplands and craggy, scrub-covered foothills. The islands account for
one-fifth of the land area of the country. The majority are thickly
clustered in the Aegean between the Greek and Turkish coasts. The Ionian
Islands are the exception; they are scattered along the west coast in the
Ionian Sea. The Aegean archipelago includes the Dodecanese, lying off the
Turkish coast, of which Rhodes is the best known; the Northeast Aegean
group, including Lemnos, Lesvos, Chios, Samos and Ikaria; the Sporades,
off the central mainland; and the Cyclades, 39 islands of which only 24
are inhabited. Crete, the largest island, is not included in any formal
grouping.

LANGUAGE:
Greek
(Ellenika). Most people connected with tourism
will speak at least some English, German, Italian or French.

COMMUNICATIONS: Telephone: IDD is available throughout the
mainland and islands. The Greek telecommunication network supplier is OTE
(Organismos Telepikinonion Ellados). Country code: 30, followed by (1) for
Athens, (31) for Thessaloniki and (81) for Heraklion. Outgoing
international code: 00. Fax: Main post offices and large hotels
have facilities. Telegram: There are telegram facilities in main
post offices and large hotels in all Greek cities and the major islands.
Post: All letters, postcards, newspapers and periodicals will
automatically be sent by airmail. There are Poste Restante
facilities at most post offices throughout the country. Advance notice is
required at all Athens branches except for the central office at 180 Eolou
Street. A passport must be shown on collection. Post office hours:
0800-1400 Monday to Friday and 0800-1330 Saturday. Press: There are
18 daily newspapers in Athens including Ta Nea, Eleftherotypia and
Eleftheros Typos. Athens News and Athens Daily Post are both
published daily in English.